Every month, the Department of State puts out the Visa Bulletin to let people know when they can move forward with green card applications. It has two main charts: Final Action Dates (when a visa can actually be issued) and Dates for Filing (when you can send in paperwork to USCIS or the National Visa Center).
Normally, USCIS picks one chart for adjustment of status filers inside the U.S. For November, they’ve gone with Dates for Filing across the board. That’s good news—it lets more people start the process sooner if their priority date qualifies.
Family-Sponsored Categories: Small but Helpful Moves
Family immigration didn’t see huge jumps, but there are some welcome advances, mostly in the filing dates. Here’s what changed compared to October:
Final Action Dates (When Visas Are Issued)
- F2B (unmarried adult children of green card holders): Moved forward 9 days to December 1, 2016 for most countries, China, and India. Mexico and Philippines stayed put.
- F3 (married children of U.S. citizens): Advanced 16 days to May 1, 2001 for Mexico only.
- Everything else—no change.
Here’s the full Final Action Dates table for family categories:
| Category | All Countries (except listed) | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | November 8, 2016 | November 8, 2016 | November 8, 2016 | November 22, 2005 | January 22, 2013 |
| F2A | February 1, 2024 | February 1, 2024 | February 1, 2024 | February 1, 2023 | February 1, 2024 |
| F2B | December 1, 2016 | December 1, 2016 | December 1, 2016 | December 15, 2007 | October 1, 2012 |
| F3 | September 8, 2011 | September 8, 2011 | September 8, 2011 | May 1, 2001 | September 22, 2004 |
| F4 | January 8, 2008 | January 8, 2008 | November 1, 2006 | April 8, 2001 | March 22, 2006 |
Dates for Filing (When You Can Submit Paperwork)
This is where the real action is:
- F1: Mexico jumped almost 5 months to March 1, 2007.
- F2A: Up 1 month to October 22, 2025 for everyone.
- F2B: More than 2 months forward to March 8, 2017 for most countries, China, and India. Mexico gained 5 months to May 15, 2009.
- F3: Mexico up 16 days to July 1, 2001; Philippines gained 3 months to November 1, 2005.
Dates for Filing table:
| Category | All Countries (except listed) | China | India | Mexico | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | September 1, 2017 | September 1, 2017 | September 1, 2017 | March 1, 2007 | April 22, 2015 |
| F2A | October 22, 2025 | October 22, 2025 | October 22, 2025 | October 22, 2025 | October 22, 2025 |
| F2B | March 8, 2017 | March 8, 2017 | March 8, 2017 | May 15, 2009 | October 1, 2013 |
| F3 | July 22, 2012 | July 22, 2012 | July 22, 2012 | July 1, 2001 | November 1, 2005 |
| F4 | March 1, 2009 | March 1, 2009 | December 15, 2006 | April 30, 2001 | January 1, 2008 |
These filing date improvements mean thousands of family members can now submit their adjustment packets or consular processing documents. That’s a real step forward, even if the final visa still depends on the slower Final Action Date.
The November 2025 Visa Bulletin is out, and while it’s not a game-changer, it brings measured progress for family-based applicants and rock-solid stability for employment-based ones. Released by the U.S. Department of State, this document remains the go-to source for anyone tracking green card timelines.
How the System Works in Plain Terms
The U.S. caps family-sponsored visas at 226,000 per year and employment-based at least at 140,000. No single country can take more than 7% of the total in any category, which is why India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines often face multi-year waits.
Your priority date—usually the date your petition was filed—determines your place in line. When your date becomes “current” (earlier than the cutoff listed), you can move ahead. “C” means current for all; “U” means unavailable.
For November, USCIS has confirmed that adjustment of status filers (Form I-485) must use the Dates for Filing chart. You can check the official guidance on the USCIS Visa Bulletin page.
Employment-Based Categories: No Change This Month
If you’re in the employment pipeline, November looks exactly like October. All cutoff dates stayed the same across EB-1 through EB-5.
Final Action Dates (Employment)
- EB-1: Current for most countries; China at December 22, 2022; India at February 15, 2022.
- EB-2: December 1, 2023 for most; China April 1, 2021; India April 1, 2013.
- EB-3 Professional/Skilled: April 1, 2023 for most; China March 1, 2021; India August 22, 2013.
- EB-4: July 1, 2020 worldwide (Certain Religious Workers unavailable until Congress acts).
- EB-5 Unreserved: Current except China (December 8, 2015) and India (February 1, 2021).
Dates for Filing (Employment)
Same story—no movement. EB-1 remains current for most, while India and China lag in EB-2 and EB-3.
Since USCIS is using Dates for Filing, eligible employment-based applicants can still file I-485 even if their Final Action Date isn’t current yet. That’s a helpful window, especially early in the fiscal year.
What Applicants Should Do Next
- Check your priority date against the November charts.
- If you’re inside the U.S. and your date is current under Dates for Filing, gather documents and file Form I-485 soon—processing backlogs at USCIS can add months.
- If you’re overseas, watch for NVC email about document submission when your date hits the filing chart.
- Keep an eye on future bulletins—demand spikes can cause retrogression, especially mid-year.
The bulletin also notes that the EB-4 Certain Religious Workers program lapsed on September 30, 2025, unless Congress extends it. Right now, it’s listed as “U” (unavailable).
Diversity Visa (DV) Cutoffs
For DV-2026 entrants:
- Africa: 17,500 (except Egypt 12,000, Algeria 8,000)
- Asia: 10,000 (except Iran 6,000, Nepal 5,500)
- All other regions have similar regional caps.
These numbers will adjust monthly as visas are used.
Final Takeaway
November 2025 brings cautious optimism for family applicants, with filing dates opening doors for more people to start the process. Employment-based categories hold steady, giving predictability to employers and workers alike. But backlogs remain a reality—especially for high-demand countries.
Stay updated by bookmarking the official Department of State Visa Bulletin and checking USCIS announcements each month.
FAQs
What are the main changes in the family-sponsored categories for November 2025?
The main changes include advancements in F2B and F3 Dates for Filing for select countries, with F2A advancing one month across all areas.
Did employment-based priority dates change in the November 2025 Visa Bulletin?
No, all employment-based categories remained unchanged from October 2025.
Which chart should adjustment of status applicants use in November 2025?
USCIS requires the use of the Dates for Filing chart for both family-sponsored and employment-based preferences.